The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Trabecular stent bypass microsurgery for open angle glaucoma.

Description

Primary open-angle glaucoma is a condition associated with a long-term increase of pressure within the eye. It may gradually lead to permanent loss of sight because of damage to the nerve that connects the eye to the brain (optic nerve).

This new procedure involves inserting a hollow metal tube (stent) into the eye in order to help fluid to drain from the front chamber of the eye.

OPCS4.6 Code(s)

C60.5 Insertion of tube into anterior chamber of eye to assist drainage of aqueous humour

Y14.3 Insertion of metal stent into organ NOC

Note:An alternative code from category Y14.- Placement of stent into organ NOC may be assigned if a different type of stent is used.

OPCS-4 codes are assigned in addition if phacoemulsification and insertion of an intraocular lens is performed at the same time as the procedure.

In addition ICD-10 codeH40.1 Primary open-angle glaucoma is assigned.

The NHS Classifications Service of NHS Connecting for Health is the central definitive source for clinical coding guidance and determines the coding standards associated with the classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) to be used across the NHS. The NHS Classifications Service and NICE work collaboratively to ensure the most appropriate classification codes are provided. www.connectingforhealth.co.uk/clinicalcoding